Press Release written by Mitchell Coll
WILMINGTON, Del. - - A high-scoring second and third quarter for the Lightning proved to be too much for the Wilmington University women's basketball team to overcome in an 82-50 loss Tuesday night CACC matchup at the Joseph West Jones Center.
In the first quarter of play, the Wildcats (2-16, 1-7 CACC) struggled to convert field goals, shooting 4-for-13, but their defensive play kept the Lightning close. Wilmington held Goldey-Beacom (7-11, 4-4 CACC) to 6-of-20 shooting, and the Wildcats grabbed eight defensive boards.
Amaja Mack opened up the scoring for the 'Cats as Daja Claiborne found Mack for a layup with 7:32 left to play in the first. Halfway through the first, the Lightning was on an 11-2 run. However, the Wildcats clawed back to end the first down by six points. Jade Roberts and Amber Washington both connected on mid-range jump shots. Washington closed the quarter with a three-pointer to make it 15-9 in favor of Goldey-Beacom.
The Wildcats improved offensively in the second quarter shooting 50 percent from the field, going five for 10. They also went 2 for four from beyond the arc, thanks to threes by Amber Washington and Azayah Garrison.
The Wildcats found themselves trailing 40-19. Still, Daja Claiborne gave Wilmington some life before heading into the locker room, as Amber Washington collected the defensive board and quickly found Claiborne, who drained the jumper.
Twenty-nine of the Wildcat's 50 points came in the second half from 10 of 27 shooting. The Wildcats got to the free-throw line for the first time in the game in the second half, converting four of six from the line in the third quarter and five of nine in the fourth.
The Lightning started the second half similar to the first by going on a 10-1 run to open up the third. After a Skylar Parris jump shot with 4:26 left in the quarter, the Wildcats started to hit more shots on the offensive end. Fatou Ndao found the basket from an assist by Jade Roberts with four minutes to play. Roberts then earned a way to the line and converted both free throws. Roberts then hit a jump shot of her own and found Daja Claiborne for a layup on back-to-back possessions.
Roberts carried her momentum into the fourth quarter as she grabbed the defensive board and then drove to the basket for a layup.
With five minutes to play, Tanasia Miles found her way to the basket with a layup. Two possessions later, Amber Washington, converted free throws from the line.
Washington finished with a team-high 19 points and four assists. Jade Roberts had eight points, four rebounds, and a steal. Fatou Ndao had seven points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
The Wildcats are back in CACC-action on Saturday, January 21, as they will travel to Caldwell University to take on the Cougars at 1:00 PM.